Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1759. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the additional biosecurity measures his Department is taking to prevent Asian hornets insects from getting in to the State. [20905/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Asian Hornet poses a serious threat to our honey bee colonies and to all our pollinators. As the Asian Hornet is considered an invasive species it falls under the responsibility of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The NPWS leads on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species.

My Department engages regularly with the NPWS and the National Biodiversity Data Centre regarding the threat of the Asian Hornet.

I would actively encourage all beekeepers and members of the public to report any suspected sightings. Members of the public can report suspected sightings with a photograph through this online form records.biodiversityireland.ie/ record/invasives or the National Biodiversity Data Centre capture app. Alternatively, if you are a beekeeper and have concerns you can also email my Department at beekeeping@agriculture.gov.ie including a photograph if possible.

My Department also runs an Asian Hornet Monitoring Programme. The Programme provides volunteer beekeeper participants with Asian Hornet traps free of charge and participants can submit any suspect samples for further analysis and identification to my Department's laboratory.